Burial-casket.



No. 789,503. 7 PATENTED MAY 9, 1905. G. E. MYERS.

BURIAL CASKET.

APPLIUATION I'ILBD SEPT. 2, 1904.

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G. E. MYERS.

BURIAL GASKET.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1904.

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CHARLES E. MYERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BUHIIML CASWET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,503, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed September 2, 1904. Serial No. 223,064.

1'0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, CI-IARLns E. Mrnns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Burial-Caskets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to burial-caskets; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a burial-casket of such construction as to enable the top of the casket, although hinged to the body, to be raised therefrom and moved rearwardly, so as to stand in a vertical position at the rear of the body with a portion only of the top exposed above the bodys rear edge, the arrangement of the casket being such as to enable a portion of the front side of the casket to be carried rearwardly with the top and a further portion to be swung or turned downwardly to produce the couch effect, a part of the foot end of the casket being also hinged to turn downwardly to heighten the couch effect of the casket.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a casket involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the casket open and the hinged portions of the front and end folded down. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the easket. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the casket in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates the body of the casket, supported upon a suitable base 2 and having a top 3 of any desired construction. This top is attached to the body of the casket by means of the arms 4:. of which there is one at each end and which are pivoted at 5 to the ends of the easket and at 6 to the ends of the top. The pivotal point 6 of the connection between said arms and the top being forward of the pivotal point 5 causes the stop when moved rearwardly to rise from the body, so as to clear the top edge thereof and to carry it free from the body as said top is swung rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2 and by dotted lines in Fig. 3, in which position the top stands vertically parallel with the rear side of the casket, with a portion of its front edge extending above the upper edge of the body. By this arrangement but a portion only of the top is exposed when the casket is open as distinguished from the entire exposure of the top when the casket is open where the top is hinged to the body as ordinarily practiced, producing by this arrangement more nearly the couch effect and obviating the annoyance due to the unwieldy hinged top as ordinarily attached when in the open position. The arrangement herein shown also affords a firm support for the top, as the arms 4 when in the open position rest upon the upper edge of the casket-bod y, relieving the body from all strain and at the same time maintaining the top in the desired vertical position without additional support. To provide an ornamental upper edge for the top when in the open position, the front side of the casket is divided horizontally on a sinuous line 7, forming an ornamental detachable section 8, which is hinged at 9 to the front edge of the top and is carried with the top as it moves rearwardly when opening the casket, enabling said section 8 to be turned upwardly to a vertical position, thereby affording an ornamental strip for the upper edge of the top of the casket when in the position shown in Fig. 2. To complete the couch effect, the front side of the body is again divided on the line 10, forming the movable front section 11, which is hinged at 12 to the remaining portion of the front side of the casket, whereby the section 11 may be folded outwardly and downwardly, as shown in Fig. 2. The foot end of the easket is also provided with a hinged section 13,

which is adapted to fold outwardly and downwardly on a line with the front section 11, whereby when the casket is open and the front side and end are folded outwardly the full couch effect is produced.

The pivoted arms 4 are provided with a lower extension which is curved in the arc of a circle, as shown at 14 and which lies against the inner face of the fixed end portions of the casket, whereby said arms are braced against lateral movement and the top is more firmly held in place when swinging to the open position. To support the segmental portions 14 of the pivoted arms, staples 15 are secured in the ends of the casket, which embrace said segments and serve as guides therefor as the arms move upon their pivots.

If desired, stop-pins 16 may be employed in the ends of the casket to arrest the pivoted arms at as they swing rearwardly in carrying the top to the position shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a casket, the combination with the body portion, of a top mounted upon the body, arms pivoted to the top and to the body and forming the sole connection between said parts, said arms supporting the top to allow it to move rearwardly in the arc of a circle and maintain a horizontal position, the pivotal connection between the arms and top allowing the top to tilt to a vertical position at the limit of its rearward movement, whereby a portion of the top is concealed behind the rear side of the casket-body when the casket is open.

2. In a burial-casket, the combination with the body, of the top mounted thereon, arms pivoted at their lower ends to the ends of the body, the upper ends of said arms being pivoted to the ends of the top whereby said top may move rearwardly and swing to a vertical position, the front of the body being divided longitudinally and the part of the front separated by said division being hinged to the top to turn upwardly when the top is open.

3. In a burial-casket, the combination with the body, of the top movably mounted upon the body, the front of the body being divided into three parts comprising a fixed portion, an upper portion hinged to the front of the top and an intermediate portion hinged to the fixed portion.

4:- In a casket, the combination with the body, the top mounted thereon to swing rearwardly to a vertical position, an upper portion of the front of the body being hinged to the front edge of the top, a further portion of the front of the body being hinged to a fixed lower part, and a portion of the end of the body being movable on a line with the hinged front portion.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. MYERS.

Witnesses:

HOWARD B. BAKER, E. S. WHEELER.- 

